Could procrastination be beneficial? 拖延是否也有益处

陈小将

你有 “拖延症” 吗？现代人经常把拖延视为一个坏习惯，但在节奏紧张的都市生活中，适当地歇一歇也许对身心健康有益。本期 “随身英语” 讨论拖延是否也有益处。
词汇：modern life 现代生活
Procrastination is often seen as the enemy of productivity. Images of lazy people with feet up on desks or wasting time to dodge work spring to mind at the very mention of the word. And there are many things which indicate that procrastination is a problem which needs addressing. But could there be some benefits to it too?
We live in a high-octane world – always on the go, racing from one task to another. And at times, duties, be it work or personal, can feel relentless – with our nose constantly to the grindstone. Sometimes we just need to switch off, chill out and reboot. A little procrastination can help detach us from the pressures of modern life. According to psychotherapist F Diane Barth, watching TV, taking a long bath or listening to music can help us to ease off.
And it’s possible that procrastination has become more prevalent during the pandemic. With many countries going through lockdowns, some of us have suddenly found ourselves with more time – not having the hours of commutes, or options of social activities we once took for granted. Being at home, many of us quickly discovered that it is impossible to be productive 24-7. That extra relaxation can help us to be more productive or creative in the long run, allowing us to clear our minds and focus better.
The issue is that many of us see that time not working as lost time. And we almost develop a sense of guilt related to not making the most of every moment. German sociologist and economist Max Weber says that we’ve almost got to the point of believing that the busier we are, the better, and that there is a sense of morality connected with time usage. It seems important to remember that taking a little time away from yourself is not just slacking off.
So, while being productive is important, it seems that some amount of downtime and procrastination can help us to relax and become more focussed. The next time you feel really stressed, why not try wasting a little time? You might just like it.
词汇表
productivity 生产力
feet up 脚翘在桌子上，指休息放松
dodge 躲避，逃避
address 设法解决，应对
high-octane 充满活力的
on the go 忙个不停
duty 责任，义务
relentless 一刻不停的，没完没了的
nose to the grindstone 埋头苦干
switch off 不再关注，不再想
chill out （疲劳后）放松一下
reboot 重新投入
ease off 减轻压力
take for granted 想当然，把...视为理所应当的
in the long run 从长远来看
make the most of 充分利用
slack off 偷懒，懈怠
downtime 休息时间